Your February 7 issue
contains several enthusiastic responses to the very notable war
stories from the Class of 1942 in World War II published in the
December 6, 2000 issue.

All this reminds me of
how true it is that as time goes on we gather more and more regard
for those who were with us or who led us through those dangerous
events.

I must say a word for
my commanding officer in the Coast Guard, who maintained our patrol
against Nazi U-boats. This was Rufus Gaylord Smith '29.

Bud Smith kept us going,
he kept our vessels in repair, he was a firm but very kind commanding
officer. I believe that it was somehow due to Bud Smith's spirit
that our patrol squadron, operating off Block Island and Montauk,
had no losses. Bud Smith died in 1989.